Organo-metallic compound and lubricating compositions containing the same



United States Patent ORGANO-METALLIC COMPOUND AND LUBRI- gATINGCOMPOSITIONS CONTAINING THE Thaddeus W. Culmer, Robinson, 11]., assignorto Hall Stewart, Danville, Ill.

No Drawing. Application January 19, 1955 Serial No. 482,888

11 Claims. (Cl. 252--49.7)

This invention relates to a lubricating composition including ahydrocarbon lubricant and an organomolybdenum compound, and to theorgano-molybdenum compound.

The production of improved lubricants and particularly of hydrocarbonlubricants having improved characteristics has been the subject ofextensive investigation and research for a considerable period of time.The objects are to impart desired characteristics to the hydrocarbons sothat the resulting lubricating compositions will be superior to thehydrocarbons themselves.

One of the features of the present invention is to provide a lubricatingcomposition comprising a major proportion of a hydrocarbon lubricant anda minor proportion of an organo-metallic compound having substantiallythe formula MoR wherein R is a member of the class consisting of phenylgroups, naphthyl groups, and alkyl substituted phenyl and naphthylgroups wherein each alkyl group has from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and n is asmall whole number of 2-4, inclusive.

Another feature of the invention is to provide as a new compound anorgano-metallic compound having substantially the formula MoR wherein Ris a member of the class consisting of phenyl groups, naphthyl groups,and alkyl substituted phenyl and naphthyl groups wherein each alkylgroup has from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and n is a small whole number of2-4, inclusive.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description of the invention in connection with certainembodiments thereof.

The new organo-molybdenum compound of this invention wherein themolybdenum atom is joined to from 2-4 aryl groups which may be eitherphenyl, naphthyl or alkyl substituted phenyl and naphthyl groups havebeen found to be oil soluble when used with a hydrocarbon lubricanteither in gear oils or motor oils to reduce Wear in the lubricated metalparts and to produce greatly improved film strength in the oil. Thecompound is preferably used in an amount between about 0.02 to 0.10% byweight of the lubricant. In the preferred compounds, the molybdenum isconnected to three of the aryl groups and these groups are preferablyeither phenyl, xylyl or naphthyl.

As the new compounds of this invention are oil soluble, they need onlyto be added in the required amount to the hydrocarbon lubricant andthoroughly mixed to produce the improved lubricating compositions ofthis invention. The organo-molybdenum compounds of this invention permitthe molybdenum to be dispersed through the oil in an oil soluble formand produce lasting effects as the molybdenum compound i quite stable.

In producing the organo-molybdenum compounds of this invention, aGrignard type reaction is employed. Here an aryl halide is reacted withmagnesium to produce the aryl magnesium halide complex. This complex isthen reacted with molybdenum halide containing from 2-4 halide atoms toproduce the aryl molybdenum com- "ice pound containing from 2-4 arylgroups and magnesium halide.

In one method of producing triphenyl molybdenum having substantially theformula: 5

8.4 parts by weight of magnesium chips and 52 parts by weight ofmonobromo benzene were refluxed at a temperature at which the monobromobenzene boiled briskly. The boiling was continued until the reaction hadprogresscd to the point Where the magnesium had changed to a yellowishjelly-like mass. This was phenyl magnesium bromide of the formula: C HMgBr. The mixture was then cooled to room temperature and then 50.

parts by weight of diethyl ether were added. This produced an exothermicreaction so that the mixture was continued under reflux to condense thevaporized ether back into the mixture. When the reaction had subsided,22 parts by weight of molybdenum trichloride were slowly added therebyproducing a vigorous reaction. in this reaction the molybdenum replacedthe magnesium. An

excess of water was then added to break up the complex molybdenum organobromide with the formation of the molybdenum triphenyl derivative andmagnesium bromo chloride. The solid precipitate of molybdenum triphenylwas then separated, washed and dried.

The above method is typical of methods that can be used to produce theorgano-molybdenum compound of this invention. The preferred method ofpreparation of these compounds can be summarized as follows:

where R=phenyl, xylyl, naphthyl, or low mol wt. (1-4 carbon atoms) alkylsubstituents thereof.

X=halide n=2 to 4 Having described my invention as related to theembodiments set out herein, it is my intention that the invention be notlimited by any of the details of description unless otherwise specified,but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set outin the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A lubricating composition comprising a hydrocarbon oil and from0.02-0.10% by weight of the oil of an organo-metallic compound havingsubstantially the formula MoR wherein R is a member of the classconsisting of phenyl groups, naphthyl groups, and alkyl substitutedphenyl and naphthyl groups wherein each alkyl group has from 1 to 4carbon atoms, and n is a small whole number of 2-4, inclusive.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein. R is phenyl.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein R is xylyl.

4. The composition of claim 1 wherein R is naphthyl. 5. The compositionof claim 1 wherein n is 3. 6. The composition of claim 1 wherein saidcompound is triphenyl molybdenum. 7. As a new compound, anorgano-metallic compound having substantially the formula MoR wherein Ris a member of the class consisting of phenyl groups, naphthyl 3 '4groups, and alkyl substituted phenyl and naphthyl groups ReferencesCited in the file of this patent wherein each 'alkyl group'has from lto4- carbon atoms, UNITED STATES PATENTS and n is a small whole number of2-4, inclusive.

.8. The com ound of claim 7 wherein R. is hen l. 2161184 McKone June1939 9. 'Thecorngound of 'claim 7 wherein R is 'x ylyl. 5 2181913 Rose1939 10. The compound of claim 7 wherein R is naphthyl. OTHER REFERENCESAS a compound triphenyl molybdenum'hav' .Gilman: Organic Chemistry,Wiley and-Sons, N. Y., mg substantlauy the formula Zndedition, volume 1,page 564, April 1953.

1. A LUBRICATING COMPOSITION COMPRISING A HYDROCARBON OIL AND FROM0.02-0.10% BY WEIGHT OF THE OIL OF AN ORGANO-METALLIC COMPOUND HAVINGSUBSTANTIALLY THE FORMULA MORN WHEREIN R IS A MEMBER OF THE CLASSCONSISTING OF PHENYL GROUPS, NAPHTHYL GROUPS, AND ALKYL SUBSTITUTEDPHENYL AND NAPHTHYL GROUPS WHEREIN EACH ALKYL GROUP HAS FROM 1 TO 4CARBON ATOMS, AND N IS A SMALL WHOLE NUMBER OF 2-4, INCLUSIVE.
 7. AS ANEW COMPOUND, AN ORGANO-METALLIC COMPOUND HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY THEFORMULA MORN WHEREIN R IS A MEMBER OF THE CLASS CONSISTING OF PHENYLGROUPS, NAPTHYL GROUPS, AND ALKYL SUBSTITUTED PHENYL AND NAPHTHYL GROUPSWHEREIN EACH ALKYL GROUP HAS FROM 1 TO 4 CARBON ATOMS, AND N IS A SMALLWHOLE NUMBER OF 2-4, INCLUSIVE.